Patrick Mullins Wins Ride Of The Year At McCoy Awards

At the McCoy Awards last week there was some noteworthy prizes won for last years performances throughout the jumps season with the big one going to Patrick Mullins who won ride of the year.

Mullins' brilliant performance on board Rathvinden in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham festival earned him this years coveted prize of ride of the season.

Riding for his dad Willie Mullins, the jockey was well deserving of this prize after the heroics that went into it. Making a clear mistake at the 11th and from there looked out of it but recovered well to outstay Ms Parfois up the hill at Cheltenham who looked sure to win.

At the ceremony there were other awards handed out from last seasons performances in the National Hunt season. Nicky Henderson's superstar Might Bite took home the horse of the season award for his remarkable outings when winning the King George and the Betway Bowl and coming a gallant second to Native River in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in his only defeat of the season.

Native River's Gold Cup Victory was widely celebrated with the Colin Tizzard trained chaser winning the horse performance of the year for that win at Cheltenham on the Friday.

Jockey prizes were won by some well known people in the sport with Harry Skelton winning Professional jockey of the season, James Bowen winning conditional Jockey of the season and Lorcan Williams winning the amateur of the season.

Andrew Thornton who retired at Uttoxeter this year was handed a special outstanding contribution accolade for his 1,007 winners over his 28 years of service to the sport.

Trainers that cleaned up on the night included Nicky Henderson who was named the leading trainer for the season with more than 40 horses and Nick Williams won the prize for the leading trainer with less than 40 horses.

(Credit Racing UK)